Electric fence wire holder



1 in w 7 mm m 6 WTJM 3 C mm 1 4.

L- c. THOMAS ELECTRIC FENCE WIRE HOLDER Filed April 16, 1968 Sept 2, 1969 United States Patent 3,464,671 ELECTRIC FENCE WIRE HOLDER Lewis C. Thomas, 3204 NW. 61st St. Terrace, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73112 Filed Apr. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 721,868 Int. Cl. A01k 3/00; Hc N00 US. Cl. 256-- 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention This invention relates to electric fences and particularly to insulating fence posts.

Electric fences have been known and used for many years but customarily they comprise a metal post and a conducting wire extending from post to post along the line of the fence. Special insulating means have been provided to support the wire from the post in electrically insulated relation thereto but a disadvantage was that rain, snow and other inclement weather could cause a short circuit between the wire and the post and thus destroy or weaken the effectiveness of the fence. In some instances wooden posts were employed, or posts of other insulating material but rather complicated wire insulating and supporting means were used.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention an electric fence is provided wherein the posts are of electrically insulating material, such as plastic tubular posts, and wherein the wire holding means comprises a simple sleeve adapted to slip frictionally over the post to any desired position along the length thereof and has a portion arranged to resiliently confine the conductor wire and hold the same firmly against a side of the post at any desired elevation.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an insulating wire holder embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a modified form of wire holder;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 taken on the line 55 thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5.

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Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a fence post 2 in the form of a hollow plastic tube of sufficient rigidity to be driven into the ground and thereby be self-sustaining in a vertical position. A wire holder sleeve 4 of generally cylindrical configuration is also in the form of a hollow tubular section of insulating plastic material and so dimensioned as to fit fairly snugly over the post 2 whereby it will be frictionally held at any position in which it is placed, along the length of the post. The holder 4 is provided with a transverse, generally V-shaped notch 6, between the ends thereof and extending nearly completely through the holder sleeve, leaving only a relatively thin portion 8 uncut at one side thereof. Thus, the holder comprises upper and lower sleeve portions 10 and 12 having adjacent or opposed edge portions 14 and 16 in position to engage the upper and lower surfaces of a conductive wire 18 and hold the same against sliding movement in the direction of length of the post 2 while portion 8 spans the space between those edges and holds the wire '18 firmly against the post. The parts are so dimensioned that the wire 18, when in position as shown in FIG. 2, will partly stress the holder to cause it to bind quite snugly against the post 2 and thus hold the parts in any desired position of adjustment.

In mounting the holder 4 and wire 18 on the post, the wire is first inserted laterally into the notch 6 while the holder is above or free of the post 2. While holding the wire 18 in the apex of the notch 6, the holder is then slipped downwardly over the top of the post 2 into the binding relationship described. The post 2 and the holder 4 are sufficiently resilient and flexible to permit slight distortion thereof to accommodate the parts and to provide the flexure necessary to ensure proper frictional engagement. As is obvious, the wire '18 is then efficiently insulated from the ground in which the posts 2 are driven and an effective electric fence is provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6, the post 20 shown therein is substantially identical to the post 2 of FIG. 1 but is further provided with a series of vertically spaced openings or holes 22 therein. The wire holder 24 comprises a generally cylindrical sleeve of plastic material of a size to snugly and frictionally encompass the post 20 and is provided with an integral downwardly projecting portion 26 turned inwardly at its lower end and arranged to project through a selected opening 22 in the post 20. The projection 26 thus extends over the fence wire 18 and the inturnedend positively supports the same against downward movement on the post 20 while the edge portion 28 of the sleeve 24 prevents upward movement of the wire along the post, when the parts are in the assembled position shown in the drawings. Since the projection 26 is relatively thin and narrow, it is, therefore, quite flexible and a suitable reinforcing rib 30' is provided on the wire holder to impart additional stiffness and prevent inadvertent outward fiexure of the projection 26 while ensuring that the parts be held in close frictional engagement with the post 20 as shown. The manner of assembling the parts of this embodiment is essentially the same as that already described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

While a limited number of specific embodiments of the invention have been shown herein the same are merely illustrative of the principles involved and other modifications may be resorted to.

I claim:

1. In an electric fence having an upright nonconductive fence post; a generally cylindrical resilient nonconductive sleeve member frictionally embracing said post; and an electrically conductive wire extending transversely of said post and in contact with a side thereof, a holding portion of said sleeve member overlying said wire and resiliently pressing the same against said post, said sleeve member including means restraining said wire against vertical sliding movement along said post, said sleeve member comprising sleeve portions embracing said post above and below said wire, respectively, said restraining means comprising adjacent edges of said sleeve portions and said holding portion of said sleeve member overlying said wire being integrally joined to said sleeve portions and spanning the space between said adjacent edges thereof.

2. A fence as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve member comprises a straight tubular member of plastic material having a generally V-shaped notch, intermediate ,4 its ends, an extending nearly therethrough, the portion of said sleeve member adjacent the apex of said notch comprising said holding portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 337,259 3/1886 Gholson 25648 560,364 5/ 1896 Owens.

684,096 10/1901 Price 256--47 1,965,644 7/1934 Heifelfinger 287-54 X 2,805,277 9/1957 Moeller 25610 X 3,214,141 10/1965 Wilson 25647 X FOREIGN PATENTS 140,709 1/ 1953 Australia.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 25648 

